Book match package



1937- A. i-l. GARSIDE- BOOK rmcn PACKAGE Filed Oct. 29, 1936 lNVENTOh A6550, Hall/3.522%

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

Many schemes have been proposed for the modification of the ordinary type of book-match package so that the ignitable heads of the match pack are protected from the flame or sparks of a match being lighted.

All such schemes, modifications and protect- .ing attachments with which I am familiar, are subject to one or more objections, among which are that they are complicated and expensive to manufacture, difficult to manipulate, unreliable in operation, easily rendered ineffective, or so ':formed that the user tears off the protecting member and throws it away rather than be bothered with it.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved book-match package having'protecting means which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to manipulate into open or closed position, and which is highly effective in minimizing the possibility of accidentally igniting the match heads during match striking operations.

As an important feature of the present invention, the cover of the book-match package which normally conceals the match pack, has a flap carrying a striking surface which cannot be effectively used for match striking operations except when the flap is folded in shielding position over'the heads of the remaining matches.

As a further feature, the safety or protecting flap is so formed and mounted that the striking surface on said flap is necessarily and certainly concealed and protected by the cover of the book when said book is in closed position. Thus, this "surface is not damaged by moisture resulting from perspiration or other causes, and is not ruined by contact with the other articles in a pocket or bag in which the pack-age is carried.

As a further feature, the mounting of the match pack and the striking surface are independent of each other and said surface does not have any wire staple or other securing means interfering with the proper and effective use thereof.

- As another feature, the book-match package with its safety flap, is so constructed as to lend itself very effectively as an advertising medium, various sections of its cover being necessarily exposed to view in the normal use of the package so that advertising matter is effectively exhibited.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and shows the package in closed position,

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the package in open position, one of the matches being pulled off the match strip, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the package in match striking position.

In the specific embodiment of the invention shown, the book-match package is provided with a cover formed from a rectangular blank of cardboard or similar semi-rigid material. This includes a body portion I2 serving as a backing for the, match pack I4, and at one end has the usual narrow upfolded flap II forming with the rear body section I2 a trough or pocket for the reception of the base end of the standard type of match pack I I permanently retained therein by any suitable means as for instance a staple I5.

At the opposite end of the back section I2 there is the usual main flap I3 folded and tucked in behind the edge of the flap II.

As an important feature of the present inven-,

tion, the blank is very much longer than the usual cover blank, and the extension is doubled back on the inner surface of the cover portion I3 to form a comparatively wide section I6 from the end of which the blank extends as a flap IT. The 3 overlapping sections I3 and I6 are permanently held together in any suitable manner as for instance by adhesive, to form a double thickness or two-ply cover flap with the outer fold edge I8 of the sections I3 and I6 adapted tobe tucked and retained underneath the flap II as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The flap I1 is free to swing about a fold line 20 normally disposed in front of and below the match heads when the package, is closed. This flap forms a safety member to protect the ignitable match heads 2| of the match pack I4, and also carries at its free end a coating or an abrasive strip presenting an ignition striking surface 22 on the side which is facing upwardly when the flap is covering the matches. If the abrasive surface be on a separate strip, the latter may be secured to the safety flap IT by any suitable means such as adhesive, and preferably without any staple, so that said strip will present an un- 50 obstructed striking surface.

It is thought that the operation and advantages of my improved package will be apparent.

The cover is opened in the usual manner and in doing so the flap. will naturally swing or will 55 easily be swung up to the position shown in Fig. 3. For instance, the cover flap [3, [6 may be gripped between the index finger and the middle finger, while the lower portion of the book containing the match pack I4 is held by the thumb and third and fourth fingers. In this position, the safety flap l1, due to its inherent resiliency, will extend upwardly, so that it will not interfere with the operation of pulling a match from the pack M. In order to strike a match on the abrasive strip 22, it is necessary to hold the flap l1 'firmly against angular movement. This is easily done by a simple finger manipulation which may consist in bringing the index finger down on the safety flap [1 to bend said flap downwardly overthe match heads as shown in Fig. 4,;so that .the abrasive surface 22 will be backed bythe rigid match pack l4, and thus supported to withstand the match striking pressure. In .this.position, the match heads are shielded by the safety i'flap It], thereby minimizing the possibility of any sparksmr flame from the matchaccidentally igniting said match heads. in By providing 'a-safety flap having an abrasive surface which cannot be used for match striking purposes unless the flap is in shielding position over the-match heads, protection against accidental ignition of these heads is assured.

Since the book-match package must be in open 130 position when the match is struck, the cover flap l3 may act as a shield to prevent the flame from being blown out before it can be applied to a cigarette'or other smoking article. Furthermore, the user may hold the book in one handand cup both hands togetherfor further protection against thewind or rain -without running the risk of "accidental ignition of the matches.

It is common practice for pipe smokers to pack down *the lighted tobacco in the pipe with 40 the cover flap or panel of the usual book-match package. This-is somewhat dangerous but, with the present invention, this operation can be'very safely effected with the cover flap I2, l6 since the flap II will shield the matchheads against'any accidental ignition.

After the'operation of'lighting the match shown in Fig. "4, the cover maybe closed bytucking' the outer fold edge "|8 of "thesection' f5 underneath the flap H. This is the same simple operation 1 5O employed in closing an ordinary book-match package. In' this closed position, the abrasive surface 22 will be entirely enclosed within the package, sothat this strip will be protected from atmospheric. moisture or from moisture resulting 'fro'rn bodyperspiration,'wh'ich might damage the abrasive surface. Furthermorawhen the bookmatchpackage is carried in the ordinary pocket or bag, the'abrasivesurface will not come in contact with other articles therein, which would causedamage to. the abrasive material.

Furthermore, since the: abrasive surface is not Ton 'the retaining .meansforthe match strip, as in. the ordinarybookfmatch package, it is not necessary to have fafstaple extending through saidssurface, so that the possibility of damaging the-abrasive surface by a stapling operation is eliminated. v

Sincetheabrasive-surface 22 is not on the flap l'l,,as in the standard type of book-match package, the outer surfaceof theflapll may carry advertising matter: or may be colored or otherwise decorated, and will attractively match and blend with .the. :advertisingmatter-contained on I5 the outerasurfa'ce of the-cover, thereby enhancing striking of a match.

;able designs on all of these surfaces by a single operation.

Whenthe book-match package is in ope position as shown in either Fig. 3 or Fig. 4, the surface bearing the advertising will be exposed full viewzso that the latter will be conspicuous to the user.

Although I have shown the cover flap I3, I6 of double thickness-and the flap. H- integral with the cover, it will :beapparent thatthe same .protection would be-afforded by making the back '12 instead of the front outer flaptof double thickness, or by making both the back I2and the front flap 1 3. of-single thickness, and-cement or staple .the flap IT to the cover. adjacent to the :match heads or the fold line -.20, or by foldingan extension of the flap l'l backon itself to give .it double thickness and permit both surfaces to be printed by a singleoperation.

Having thus described my invention, :what I claimas new and vdesireto secure by Letters Patent is pack, and a cover formed of a single rectangular strip of cardboard, one end of said strip being secured to the base end of said match pack, .an intermediate portion of said strip being folded other end portion of said strip forming an inner flap adapted to cover the matchheads during the 2. 'A book-match package including :a match pack, and acover formed of a singlerectangularpv strip of cardboard, one end of said strip being secured to the base end of said. match pack, an intermediate portion of said strip being folded upon itself to form an outer cover flap, and the other end portion .of said strip forming an inner; flap shorter than the outer cover flap and presenting a striking surface covered.;by the :outer flap when the package isclosed.

3. .A book-match package including a match getherv adjacent to thematch heads, and adapted to be folded in superposed position overthe match pack, the inner of said flaps having an outer striking surface and the outerof said .fiaps serving:

to protect. and conceal said package is closed.- l

4. A book-match package includinga match pack, and a cover including a back panel, and two surface when the flaps connected to the back paneLalong a line!- adjacent to and substantially parallel to'the serving to protect and conceal saidsurface when the package is closed.

5. A book-match package including a match pack, and a cover including a back panel, an upfold flap at one end thereof adapted to form with 1. A book-match package including a match 5335 upon itself to form an outer cover flap, and .thecf pack, and a cover includinga back panel, and twoaz .fiaps connected to the-'backpanel, connected tothe back panel a channel for receiving and rebeing shorter than the outer flap and having an taining the base end of the match pack, and two outer striking surface, and the outer of said flaps flaps connected to the back panel along a line adapted to be tucked beneath said upfold flap adjacent to and substantially parallel tothe to protect and conceal the inner flap and its strik- 5 match heads of the pack, said last mentioned ing surface when the package is closed.

flaps being adapted to be folded in superposed position over the match pack, the inner of said flaps ALSTON H. GARSIDE. 

